🔗 Share this article

UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet underwhelming start to his career under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a judges' verdict in a close 10-round contest at the Manchester venue.

But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful clean blows in a contest where the approaches failed to mesh, with excessive holding spoiling the action.

Two judges scored it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my best display but what defines champions? They win," the victor said in the ringside as he was faced boos from the crowd.

The Londoner returned to winning ways after his maiden career setback - an epic battle with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th pro success.

Various analysts felt Parker, 31, should have been awarded the decision but the contender experienced the second loss of his 28-match career.

The Champion Earns Win in Uneventful Affair

His career development has stalled in the past few years through promotional disputes and extended periods of inactivity.

Earlier forecast as the next star of the British fight scene, he now finds himself trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a last chance - under recent support.

He opened tentatively, with both competitors prepared to take risks in a calculated opening few rounds.

Parker, whose sole prior loss came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after suffering a hand injury in the contest, was competing in only his second bout at light-heavyweight.

By the halfway stage, the underdog had made it competitive, causing problems for the favorite, who utilized a solid defense to barely take the better stanzas.

The audience's tolerance wore thin amid constant clinching, with Parker falling to the floor several times during clinches.

The underdog ended stronger, but multiple periods were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - providing analysis for the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just only one stanza.

Buatsi moves on, but with the caliber of power puncher David Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - judging by this showing - still seems difficult.

Ricky Hatton Homage Fuels Manchester Derby Battle

In the co-main event, Arthur overcame Rea by split-decision in a excellent Manchester vs Manchester fight to capture the European light heavyweight championship.

The stadium became quiet for a extremely emotional memorial ahead of the contest as 10 bells tolled in honor of Manchester's own Hatton, who died aged 46 in last month.

It was the premier televised boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness gave way to a chant of "there's only one Ricky Hatton".

The action within the ring equaled the emotion. Arthur was floored by a left hook squarely on the chin in the initial stage, getting up unsteadily to his feet on the referee's count.

But the Manchester United-red attire of Arthur soon advanced again. On the opposite side, Rea - in competitive blue - was injured early, significant bruising appearing under his eye as the duo traded hard punches.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but the champion, 34, fought fire with fire with effective uppercuts as the intensity rarely dropped over the full distance.

Arthur edged the result with judges scorecards of even score, close margin and wider gap, but both fighters were persistent and full of heart, exactly what their hero the legend represented.